Automatic gate



Gct. 24, 1950 R. l. c. HALE 2,527,129

AUTOMATIC GATE Filed Feb. 2, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 JL 1 N" I 311 J3 f? /3 Ew N m im! QN;

R. l. C. HALE AUTOMATIC GATE Oct. 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2., 1945 @mM/14S Patented Oct. 24, `1950 UNITED STATES VPATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC GATE Robert I. C. Hale, New Castle, Ind.

Application February 2, 1945, Serial No. 575,759

1 Claim. (Cl. 39-18) This invention relates to gates, and more particularly to an automatically operated gate adapted to be actuated by a vehicle approaching said gate.

A main object of this invention is to provide a gate for a fenced-off area, such as a stock grazing area, which can be automatically opened by a vehicle entering the area without the necessity of the driver descending from the vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple gate mechanism opening automatically upon approach of a' vehicle from either direction and closing automatically when the vehicle has passed through.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claim and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the gate of this invention and its operating mechanism.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the gate of Figure 1 with certain parts in section, viewed from the approach side of the gate.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail view showing the gate in open position such as would be the condition thereof if actuated by a vehicle passing through the gate.

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the gate structure of Figure 1.

Referring to drawings, I designates a gate member interposed between fence sections 2 and 3 at roadway 4. Gate I comprises a rigid frame 5 provided with wire or other` suitable fencing material in the body portion thereof. Gate I is rigidly secured to a horizontal shaft 6 at the base thereof, journaled in appropriate bearing members 'I and 8 mounted on supporting timber beams 9 and IIJ. At one of the top corners of frame 5 an eye member I I is provided to which is secured a cable I2, Said cable I2 extends over a pulley provided on an arm I3 extending from a post I4, and carries a weight I5 which biases gate I to its raised position. Shaft 6 is provided with an extension I6 carrying an additional weight element A pair of Stringer members I8 and I9 are positioned longitudinally of the roadway 4 adjacent gate I and are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the wheels of a standard automobile or truck. Extending transversely of the roadway in advance of gate I is a shaft 2!) journaled in bearing member 2| on beam 9 and bearing member 22 on beam I0. Said shaft 20 underlies stringers I8 and I9, said stringers being substantially ush with the road- 2 way whereas beams 9 and I0 are relatively depressed with respect to the roadway surface. Stringer I9 is provided with an aperture 23 above the portion of shaft 2i) adjacent thereto and a ysubstantially flat baille 24 formed with a bottom offset is rigidly secured to shaft 2D and projects through aperture 23. Said baille 24 is normally maintained in vertical position by a linkage comprising an arm 25 provided at the end of shaft 29 and a link 26 pivotally secured to arm 25 at one end and pivotally secured to an arm 21 kformed on shaft 9 at the other end. The offset at the bottom of paddle member or baille 24 is sufllcient to allow baille 24 to be rotated to a ilat position on Stringer I9.

When a vehicle approaches the gate, the vehicle bumper, and then one of the front wheels contacts baille 24 and rotates it to its flat position on Stringer I9. By virtue of the above-described connecting linkage, this causes gate 6 to be rotated to its horizontal, non-obstructing position. As the vehicle continues its travel, the wheels pass onto tread elements 28 and 29 formed on gate I and supported on stringers I8 and I9, respective1y,which carry the load.

A transverse shaft 3i), similar to shaft 20, is provided on the inside of the enclosure, and is likewise journaled on bearing members 3l and 32 provided respectively on beams 9 and I0. A linkage comprising arm 93 formed at the end of shaft 30, offset link 34 and arm 35, formed on shaft 6, connects shaft 30 to gate I. A baille 36 is provided on shaft 39 and extends through an aperture 3l in overlying Stringer member I9. Baille 136 is provided with a bottom offset similar to that of baille 24, but is rotated in an opposite direction. Tread element 29 of gate I is provided with an extension 33 adapted to cooperate with baille 36 to provide a substantially continuous runway for a vehicle wheel passing over gate I from the direction of baffle 24. Batlle 24 is likewise of suitable length so that the vehicle wheel will roll directly onto tread element 29 from baille 24 when the gate has been lowered. The paddle elements are therefore so arranged with respect to tread element 29 on gate I that the gate will continue to be held down until the vehicle has cleared baille 36. Weights I 5 and I1 will then lift the gate to raised position.

When the vehicle approaches from the opposite direction to leave the enclosure, the vehicle bumper will depress baille 36 land by virtue of its connecting linkage will likewise lower gate I. Said gate will remain in lowered position until the rear wheel of the vehicle has cleared baffle 24,

3 whereupon weights l5 and l1 will again lift gate l to its raised position.

A suitable excavation 39 is provided for arm 35 and the lower portion of offset link 34.

While a specific embodiment of an automatic gate structure has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that numerous modifications within the spirit of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as dened by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is: A gate, comprising a horizontal rock shaft ex tending transversely of the road, a vertically swinging gate rigidly mounted upon the rock shaft to be moved to a raised position anda lowered horizontal position, tracks mounted upon the gate and extending longitudinally of the road, at least one track extending beyond the top of the gate, upper and lower cranks rigidly mounted upon the rock shaft and extending in opposite directions, a second rock shaft extending transversely of the road upon one side of the gate, a third crank rigidly mounted upon the second rock shaft and extending above the same, a link pivotally connected with the third crank and with the upper crank of the first rock shaft, a baille rigidly mounted upon the second rock shaft and disposed to be engaged by the wheel of the vehicle and shifted to the horizontal position when the gate is swung to a horizontal position, a third rock shaft extending transversely of the road upon the opposite side of the gate, a fourth crank rigidly mounted -upon the third rock shaft and extending above the same, a link pivotally connected with the fourth crank and the lower crank of the first rock shaft, a second baille rigidly mounted upon the third rock shaft to be engaged by the wheel of the vehicle and to be swung to a horizontal position when the gate element is swung to the horizontal position, the arrangement being such that the first and second bailles swing inwardly toward each other when either baille is swung downwardly by the wheel and the extended track of the gate will have its end arranged in close relation to the end of the lowered second baille for forming a substantially continuous track, and weight operated means con nected with the gate element to raise the same when released.

ROBERT I. C. HALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 730,290 McElroy June 9, 1903 1,047,925 Doyle Dec. 24, 1912 1,713,235 Lowance May 14, 1929 1,714,942 Brobeck May 28, 1929 1,837,941 Baltzer Dec. 22, 1931 1,944,349 Kincaid Jan. 23, 1934 2,256,662 Blaker Sept. 23, 1941 

